Coffman Waives Preliminary Hearing

An Arizona man accused of stabbing his half-brother to death in western Illinois has waived a preliminary hearing.

The Quincy Herald-Whig reports 28-year-old Joseph M. Coffman of Fort McDowell, Arizona, waived the scheduled hearing Wednesday in Pike County.

He has not entered a plea and is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 23.

Coffman is charged with first-degree murder in the July 19 death of 47-year-old Dennis Coffman of Petersburg.

Pike County State's Attorney Matt Goetten says Dennis Coffman was stabbed multiple times with a knife while the Coffman's were in a vehicle traveling from Missouri to Illinois.

Joseph Coffman is being held in the Pike County jail.